Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) is a Christmas tradition that takes place every year on the 5
th of December in the Netherlands. Zwarte Piet is Sinterklaas’ (Santa Clause) helper, and across the small European country, Dutch children are excited for the duo’s arrival each year. The tradition is said to be the creation of schoolteacher Jan Schenkman, first introduced in a children’s book he published in the 1850s. In the story, Zwarte Piet helps Sinterklass during the festive period by kidnapping bad children and taking them to Spain.
Over time, the story has evolved into Zwarte Piet’s arrival being something children look forward to, instead of fear. Both Sinterklass and Zwarte Piet appear in parades across the country in early December, where they hand out sweets to the children.